By Laura Wakely
BRIMBANK hoons are some of the worst in the state, with police impounding 772 vehicles since hoon laws began.
Brimbank Police Service Area (PSA) has one of the highest vehicle impoundments in the state, only coming second to Hume PSA which impounded 875.
Brimbank PSA have impounded more vehicles than any other PSA, with 86 vehicles since the new hoon laws, which allow police to immediately confiscate vehicles for 30 days, came into effect on 1 July this year.
Data also shows that males accounted for 974 of the 1038 hoon drivers caught in this period across Victoria.
More 18-21 year olds had their vehicles impounded, with 322, followed by 22-25 year old drivers with 283.
Learner drivers made up 49 of the drivers caught, while 283 P-platers had their vehicles impounded and 430 full-licensed drivers were caught hooning.
The 1038 vehicles include a 2009 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle impounded on 16 September on the Calder Freeway in Niddrie after the 21-year-old Hillside driver was found driving while disqualified.
Driving with a disqualified or suspended licence was the top offence for impoundments with 310, while 240 impounds were for excessive speeding more than 45 kilometres and 239 impounds were for improper use of a motor vehicle.
Head of Road Policing Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said the results should send a strong message to would-be dangerous drivers.
“This should serve as a warning that police are 100 per cent committed to getting hoon and dangerous drivers off the road,” Mr Walshe said.
“This is outrageous behaviour on the state’s roads and places not only these motorists at risk, but other innocent road users.”
He said the youngest motorist to have their car impounded in the past three months was 14-years-old, while the oldest driver was 85.
“It doesn’t matter if you are a newly licensed probationary driver or a grandparent – these important laws apply to you and will be enforced,” Mr Walshe said.
Roads Minister Terry Mulder said the data had proved new hoon laws were “highly successful”.
“My message to hoons is simple: this will hurt,” Mr Mulder said.
“You’ll lose your car, pay fines and impoundment costs, and will be walking for at least a month.
“What will this mean for your job? What will this mean for your bank balance? Hooning is a very expensive exercise.”
He said the work is underway to develop a compulsory safe driver education program targeting hoons and legislation will be introduced to Parliament in 2012.
